Mphela sealed the French fate

The home crowd, who cheered with deafening sound at every move of their team, went wild in the 37th minute after a cross from the left hit defender Abou Diaby only to fall on striker Katlego Mphela who tapped into an empty net from three yards.

One-man more than their opponents but the South Africans still could not go for the kill in the second session though Mphela got two more scoring chances.

First France keeper Hugo Lloris dived to his right to save Mphela's strike in the 58th minute and then blocked the same South African striker's another effort five minutes later. 

Florent Malouda, who came in for Gignac in the second half, scored France's only goal of the World Cup from what perhaps could be their best move of the tournament. 

Bacary Sagna slided Franck Ribery in on the right of the box and he intelligently squares for Malouda to roll into an empty net. 

Despite the goal, France knew early into the match that they would not go beyond the first round.

Image: South Africa's Katlego Mphela (R) scores a goal past France's Gael Clichy (centre) and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris